Chelsea v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[eastie]

I'd expect an unchanged team today.

[PaulWinch again]

I wouldn't be surprised if we got beaten soundly today - it'd be a come down after last week, but really, it is going to be like that, ups and downs, for this whole season.

We haven't suddenly become brilliant, like we were never actually totally shit.

This is one of the toughest fixtures all year, and whatever happens, if we lose, we need to not take it too much to heart, we just need to keep backing the manager and the players.

Agreed and the bonus is that we have a 3 point cushion on the bottom 3.

[Irish villain]

I stand by my earlier comment, a draw today would be a very good result and not beyond the bounds of possibility.

[eastie]

I wouldn't be surprised if we got beaten soundly today - it'd be a come down after last week, but really, it is going to be like that, ups and downs, for this whole season.

We haven't suddenly become brilliant, like we were never actually totally shit.

This is one of the toughest fixtures all year, and whatever happens, if we lose, we need to not take it too much to heart, we just need to keep backing the manager and the players.

Agreed and the bonus is that we have a 3 point cushion on the bottom 3.

Anything today is a bonus but I think we will have a real crack at getting 6 points from our 2 home games this week- exciting time with 6 games in the next 16 days.

[Matt Collins]

I worry we've been a bit over hyped this week. Like others, I can see us coming back down to earth today. A good, energetic, confident start would be nice. But we might get done 5-0 today. We just need to avoid slitting our wrists if we do. We're making progress.

[Clampy]

I think the Wigan game is going to be tough as well. They deserved a point at least yesterday and might have got one had the ref been doing his job properly.

As for today, we've got a decent record down there. There's no reason why we can't get at least a point.

[dave.woodhall]

I worry we've been a bit over hyped this week. Like others, I can see us coming back down to earth today. A good, energetic, confident start would be nice. But we might get done 5-0 today. We just need to avoid slitting our wrists if we do. We're making progress.

This as well.

[eastie]

Big worry for me today is phil dowd being referee, he is a dreadful official and I fear he will be very biased towards Chelsea .

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

This is a tough tough game. Even Torres has woke up !! would be happy with a draw. 1-1 Weiman ..........

Its not so much that he's woken up but that they're finally playing to his strengths. Before, the likes of Oscar, Mata and Hazard were playing it into his feet so that they could get the ball back. He's not a hold up player. Now they're playing the ball into space for him to run onto and he's looked a totally different player as a result.

Whatever way you are playing chances are chances and he was missing plenty of them. It has been more about confidence than tactics .....

[Pete3206]

Cockney Gobshite on CFC wrote

I hate Villa, I hate their fans and I hate Stan Collymore.
 
Three points off them sends them closer to to Championship.

Another Cockney Gobshite on CFC wrote

Add to that: I hate Ashley Young and Gareth Barry.
 
Take 'em out, CFC!

Topical

[UK Redsox]

Stamford Bridge still has the most over the top level of stewarding/security at the Away entrance. Three banks of stewards before even reaching the pat down bloke.

[Yossarian]

Chelsea are in the top 5 of scummy teams along with Leeds, Milwall, MK Dons and Birmingham City. They are a malignancy on the face of the English game.

[ktvillan]

Basically what Pauliewalnuts said, after the surge in optimism from the last two results and the cup draw, we have to remember we're probably not suddenly world beaters.    I suspect we may be in for a slight reality check today, and we shouldn't get too down about it if it happens.  I hope I'm wrong though, and we certainly go into this game with a lot more hope than I would have expected a few weeks ago.  I'll look upon it as a brucie bonus if we get anything.

[Pete3206]

I'm looking forward to SKY's pundits sudden discovery of Christian Benteke and how he's all of a sudden on the radar of bigger clubs.

 

[Jimbo]

Tim Lovejoy is a Chelsea 'fan'. This should be all the motivation we need to hammer these classless lottery winners.